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I had bad diarrhea days 3 and 4 after surgery. I also blamed the protein shakes but my surgeon said sometimes it's happens when things are waking up and starting to work again. But, too much sugar free stuff can do it to you for sure. I can't stand artificial sweeteners so I have always avoided them but they contain something called sugar alcohol which upsets tummies sometimes. You newbies should all take it easy. I did nothing but short walks in the house for the first two weeks. You are recovering from major surgery and getting almost no calories in. Give yourselves time to heal. As far as water goes I never met those goals. I still don't truth be told. As others have said when you are early out the protein shakes count as fluid. Just do the best you can sipping water between shakes. If you are peeing a lot, and it's light in color, you're fine. Sent from my Nexus 6P using BariatricPal mobile app

Positive it happens, I agree with MxKitty you acknowledged it don't beat you're self up. I wasn't the best at food choices this weekend as I traveled as well but I was unsuccessful in my alcohol attempt as it did not sit well with me, trial and error Hope everyone had a fabulous weekend

I never said they were bad per-se. Did I not say everything in moderation? Eating them is probably no different than taking a laxative with a high fat content. Should you eat them all the time? Definitely not. Personally I would rather have a weensy bit of sugar over the sugar alcohols but that's because I'd rather not have the laxative effects.

@boldilocks me too. I had a high tolerance before surgery and it seems that hasn't changed post surgery. What has changed is that I can't take in as many ounces of liquid though. So now I order doubles. Still, I don't often get to the point where I feel intoxicated. Very surprising because I have read that post surgery the alcohol usually affects patients faster.

I own my own design firm and have similar issues with client lunches/dinners. I've only been banded for 6 weeks, but I haven't told anyone and I don't intend to. One of the ways I've been able to deal with the meal thing is to avoid dinners as much as possible -- it seems much less suspicious to others when you eat less at lunch than when you do it at dinner and alcohol is less likely to be present. I also try to have sushi with clients as much as possible. I can eat miso soup and sashimi and no one seems to notice that I'm only eating a small amount of food because it usually looks like more food than it is. I don't really have a suit issue since, being in a creative field, it's expected that I would wear something a little less traditional. But it's still important for me to look professional, so I usually wear a lot of black with high-end accessories and jewlery. I do think suits are really nice, so I might buy one when I'm a little smaller

Learning how to exist around food that you can't (or shouldn't) have is a mental exercise that takes work and determination. You are always going to be around food (or even other things) and you will always have to make the decision about whether you should have it or not and then do what you have to do. I think this entire journey is much more mental than it is physical. I don't think there really is any perfect answer. I have just chosen to embrace what I know I need to do to be successful and not cut myself off from life as I do it. And that means that I drink Water when my friends are drinking alcohol, and I eat whatever I am allowed to eat or I don't eat anything at all in situations where everyone is eating whatever they want to eat. It isn't easy, but it is worth it to move toward my goal. Good luck!

Most CLIF bars aren't that suitable for us as they are targeted to a different audience. My nephew, who is an RD in training, uses them sometimes before workouts as their nutritional profile of protein, carbohydrates and fat fits that use, but isn't ideal for keeping calories low as we need. The Quest bars are pretty good as they are low in sugar, and what carbohydrates they have are mostly fiber, which we tend to need post-op. Pure Protein bars are similar in numbers, though with less fiber and more dependence upon sugar alcohols, which some people have problems with (and others don't). Generally, I don't use the bars much except when convenience is needed (I keep a couple in the car and in my gym bag if I need something when I'm out and about) as there are better choices of real food when at home. But as a convenience food, they aren't all that bad, and early out we often have to compromise on ideals to get in what we need.

There are many challenges. will you think ahead and not put yourself in a place where you have few options but to eat poorly? how much alcohol is in your life? ( no judgement, just huge amounts of calories and bad choices if alot has been imbibed). will you tire of the limitation and being unable to eat like your friends and therefore stretch out your sleeve or will you eat slider foods? there have been very successful young people but they were willing to change their attitude to food and exercise. for me it was "am i willing to do whatever it takes?" i waited years to get the surgery until the answer was a resounding yes. I wish you the best of luck.

I was 234 at heaviest 118 at lightest and am now (4 and a quarter years post op) 149. Yes - lockdown but more than that it’s sugar addiction. At 114 I had no bum or tits or shape and people said I looked gaunt and old but I LOVED being skinny. I’m now a size 8-10 uk - up from a low 6 and definitely not fat or even really overweight. My bmi is maybe a tad over but I’ve always been solid - short legs long back- great build for a hod carrier an ex once told me!!! so I need to deal but it’s sugar I need to deal with. I go in and off IF and Keto but constantly relapse with sugar. I’m weaning off just now and am going to aim for IF on work days (my tummy is v hair trigger so that helps avoid leaving a classroom mid lesson. the struggle is real. I’m a recovering alcoholic and sugar hits the same button. I’m depressed, sedentary, lonely but I’m not giving up. It’s great to hear from people who’ve kept weight off and I’d like too to hear how you get it off again befor it’s all back... on a positive note I have boobs and a bum again!

So the alcohol and fatty meats aren't a great thing if you've got a fatty liver, but, more than likely you didn't cause enough damage/increase in those 2 occasions to cause any real issues with surgery. Most certainly stick to your liquids for the next 3 days and I'm sure things will be just fine. Just remember, afterwards for the best outcome, you should try to find other, non-food/alcohol methods for stress relief. Just stay focused, You got this!

I'm Dec. 19. I can sleep on my right side but not the left side where the port is. I still think my tummy is slightly bloated. No more pain though. It was hard not to eat/drink alcohol at a New Year's Eve party last night. But I survived. Surgery day I was 171. The pounds were coming off so fast and now for a few days the scale hasn't moved. I like it better when it was falling off:) I'd love to hear how the earlier December people are doing.

Well...I'm home from work now and drinking an "alcoholic" beverage so right now I'm alright, but I can't guarantee what the next hour will bring. It usually hits me around 7:00 - 7:30 with the crying. You guys have no idea how much it means to me for all of the responses and the PMs that I have received. I will make it one way or another. I will be happy again. Hell...I have been going out on the weekends and getting hit on left and right...I have had MANY opportunities to leave the bar with men but I wouldn't do that, even in the situation that I'm currently in. So...I only say that because I'm not staying because I'm afraid to being alone...I'm staying because I took vows and I have created a family with this man and the way that he has recently been acting, I think that there may be a future for us. He needs to continue doing what he's doing and treat me like the queen that I should be treated like. Wish me luck and send me good vibes...I need them. I'll let you know tomorrow how I make out tonight on my rollercoaster ride. Hopefully I won't get sick. lol

One of the outcomes of RNY surgery is that some patients experience hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) after surgery. This even affects individual who are not diabetic prior to the operation. I was diabetic prior to the operation and it went into remission by the time I left the hospital. I avoid sugar and several other sweeteners. But I have a sweet tooth and use a variety of other sweeteners. The sugar in milk and fruits are natural sugars that do not affect my blood sugar levels. There are many different types of sugars. Some are bad and some are O.K. Because I underwent training in preparation for my Weight Loss Surgery, I have a better understanding of the difference. So if you are diabetic, it is important to know the difference. The sugars to avoid are: sucrose (table sugar), fructose (honey), Dextrose (glucose), Maltose (malt sugar), Xylose, Corn Syrup, Corn Solids, High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS), Cane juice, Molasses, Caramel, Corn Sweeteners, Evaporated Cane, Brown Sugar, Barley Malt, and Beet Sugar. I think a few more types of sugar also fall in this category but I don't know for sure. These are Agave, Pure Maple Sugar and Date Sugar. Sugar is integrated into so much of our food today, its hard to know what is an acceptable level. Generally if one of these sugars are listed in the first five ingredients on the food label of a product it should be avoided. Take for example Campbell's Tomato Soup - It contains 12 grams of sugar and the second ingredient on the food label is High Fructose Corn Syrup. So even innocent items can become a problem. I try to limit my intake to no more than 2 grams sugar for a product. So generally I don't eat Campbell's tomato soup anymore but I do use it when I make chili because it is cut to a minor portion. On the other side is sweeteners that a diabetic can probably consume safely. They include artificial sweeteners and some natural sweeteners. Generally the artificial sweeteners have zero calories, so they are easy to spot. These sweeteners include Acesulfame Potassium (Sunett and Sweet One), Aspartame (Equal, Nutrasweet), Neotame, Rebiana (Truvia, Pure Via), Saccharin (Sweet N' Low), Sucralose (Splenda) and then natural sweeteners such as Stevia, Monk Fruit, whey Low, Coconut Sugar and Sugar Alcohol (Sorbitol, Xylitol, Mannitol, Erythritol). Many of these acceptable sweeteners are beginning to show up in more and more products in the grocery counter. In many cases if the product is listed as No Sugar Added it might be acceptable. But you need to analyze the food labeling. For example Nesquick makes a No Sugar Added Cocoa. It uses Sucralose (Splenda) as a sweetener. No sugar added ice creams are starting to show up in the store. Some brands of ice cream are using Aspartame (Nutrasweet) and Glycerine (sugar alcohol) as sweeteners. Another product it candy. Adkins makes a variety of candies that use sugar alcohol as their sweeteners. There are two other types of natural sugars that are O.K. These are the natural sugars found in fruits and milks. But some products are deceptive. You may have to read the food ingredient label because for example some fruit juice adds sugar to the juice and the product is primarily sugar.

I used to drink nothing but soda morning, noon & night ... NEVER drank water, couldn't stand the stuff ... when I started researching the band and found out that I had to give up my beloved Dr. Pepper, a tiny part of me said no way in hell am I getting that damn surgery and giving up soda! I don't drink alcohol, I've never smoked ... soda was my one & only addiction. Well, I decided to go ahead with the surgery and a month prior to it I cut out the soda completely. It was alot easier than I thought it would be as I haven't thought about it, craved it or even missed it. Last week I took a tiny sip of my son's soda and it actually tasted disgusting! These days I am perfectly content with my water & Crystal Light and for me, that in itself is a huge accomplishment!

it doesn't match up for me. i lost 72lbs and i had my surgery oct 2015 so about 7 months ago. My starting weight was 232. 229 on day of surgery. I'm 160 now. but i work out 3 to 5 days a week and i don't eat carbs or sugar or alcohol or caffeine for the most part and i've been doing that since about month 2 from surgery.

These are general supplements, most commonly given to alcoholics in the ER. When bariatric patients need supplementation, they need custom nutrients based on their individual levels. A general one really won't suffice.

First of all, get back on track. I found it very helpful to remind myself that the food I couldn't have were not out of my life forever - just for a time. Tell yourself, "I can't have this now, but I will have it down the road at the right time." That being said, this is a great time to start retraining your taste buds and your mental attitude toward food. This surgery is supposed to help you get healthier - not just thinner. You have to learn to reframe your thinking - that fast food is NOT your friend, but veggies, fruit, and lean protein ARE your friends - FOR LIFE! This is a lifestyle change, not just a weight loss plan. I am eating healthier now that I ever have in my life, and enjoying every minute of my new food choices and lifestyle! That does NOT include sugar, soda, alcohol, simple carbs, and processed food. And I don't miss those things one bit now, as the good food is so filling and makes me feel so good. There will come the day that you can have a moderate amount of fast food - once in a while, and once you are in maintenance. But by the time that rolls around, you may not even miss it if you have learned to enjoy the better stuff. I remember my first pizza and it was NOT like I remembered - what a disappointment! Same with french fries - just a salty, oily mess that made me sick. Remember that the food industry manipulates our primal taste desires for sweet, salt, and fat. The more they can add these to foods, the more addicted they can make us to a particular product. They even add sugar and salt to foods that don't even need it, but it can trigger the addictive receptors in our brains. If you take a look at your trigger foods, I will bet they all have the deadly trifecta in some combination or another.

Hi great job cupcake! I have 26 pounds left until I am a normal bmi of 22. love my bypass. I can't tolerate fats, alcohol, more than 10 g of sugar at a time, processed and fried foods.. I pretty much can only eat healthy foods which is awesome!

Great topic and lots of helpful things to consider if your weight loss slows down or stops. My doc said from the beginning it is calories in/calories out. The band will help us with portion control but it is up to us what we put in our stomach. That being said, I can tell you that like an alcoholic who takes it "one day at a time", I literally take it "one meal at a time." I basically eat what I want in moderation. Some meals I make really good choices, other meals not so much. The other day I went to Mongolian Bar-b-que for lunch which I think is a healthy choice. Pre-band days I would have had one bowl and gone back and made a second bowl. The other day I made one bowl and ate maybe a 1/4 of what I made and took the rest home. For dinner though I had a couple swedish meatballs with some mashed potatoes -- not such a good choice. Am I 100% perfect?? Not even in my wildest dreams. But I AM 100% better than I was 9 months ago. I don't say I am obsessive about what I eat, but I am conscious of what I eat and I do try and analyze what I could have done differently. For example, as an obese person I think my mentality was to eat until you're stuffed and I unconsciously was eating with my band with the mentality of "how much can I eat to be satisified?" I am trying to change that mental attitude to say "how little can I eat and be satisified?" I'm trying to tell myself that it's okay to not finish all the food on my plate regardless of how much or how little there is on there. The band is a huge tool to help us lose weight but the biggest battle I think is not with our stomachs but with our heads.

I don't exercise enough (I think I might hit 3000 steps a day) and I eat dark chocolate every night before bed. My NUT said that the biggest sign that someone is going to succeed at WLS is that they start exercising. Sometimes I think about joining a gym. I don't have any injuries or health reasons why I can't exercise. I am pretty unfit though. Like, if I tried to run a mile I would probably puke and then pass out. I have also had alcohol about 3 or 4 times. The first time I had 2-3 glasses of champagne and got so drunk, it was frightening. More recently at Christmas, I had about 2 sips of wine (and with the meal too). My surgeon said that the gastric sleeve gives you 2 or 3 years to educate yourself and change your eating patterns. If not, you can expect regain and failure. I do hope to follow the rules. As someone here said, they are there for a reason.

Mine was necessary because I had NASD: Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. My liver (which lays in front of the stomach) was enlarged and needed to be shrunk so that the doctor could have easier access to my stomach. I was on liquids for ten days.

The orthostatic hypotension is not unusual with rapid weight loss, and is one of several ramifications of your body still trying to function at your old weight when there is substantially less of you at hand - we often feel cold for the same reason, that the body is still trying to cool what is no longer there. These things do improve over time, though it may be a year or two. In the meantime, as the docs and others suggest, more salt, lots of fluids (non-alcoholic), and also exercise is also a common prescription to "keep things pumping" On the exercise front - this should improve things, but let your trainer know that you have this problem so they can watch for it. Also, another side effect of the rapid loss is that your heartrate will likely be lower, at rest and in activity, so if the trainer is pushing to achieve some specific heartrate to indicate some level of exertion, (often it is 80+% of a theoretical maximum rate) their measurement scale may be skewed and they may push you harder than they should. When I was 2-3 months out, I noticed that exercise (brisk walking short of a jog) that used to get my heart into that 80% zone (140-150 for me at the time) would barely get me over 100; even today, years later, my resting pulse is low, often 50 or below, and doctors/nurses unfamiliar with me will question it (yes, it's normal) though my BP is normal to a touch high. So, the exercise should be OK, but let them know and don't let them push you too hard - your cardiac system may have excess capacity, but you may be evertaxed elsewhere. Your ketone levels have little to do with whether or not you are losing weight. They are in indication that you are burning fat. but that can be ingested fat as well as stored fat. If you want to burn your stored fat, you need a good caloric deficit, and it matters little what style of diet is used to accomplish that - low fat, low carb, keto, paleo, Atkins, whole 30 or whatever it may be. I used a relatively high carbohydrate diet (by Atkins/keto standards - 100ish g/day) and lost quite rapidly - because of the fairly high caloric deficit; ketones were there in the blood tests because I was burning my fat stores, but those readings weren't a goal. The high fat/low carb type diets a la keto and paleo are popular these days, but the high calorie levels that often accompany them can sometimes make weightloss difficult. Clinically, high fat/low carbohydrate diets are often prescribed to avoid or minimize weight loss after a non-WLS gastrectomy, so if you are trying to use such a diet for weight loss, you have to keep a close eye on calorie levels. Being four months out, you should still be fairly restricted in you eating volume so that you should still be losing at a reasonable pace, but if you are ingesting too many calories by "eating around" your wLS - drinking calories or very high calorie foods - then you can see low or no loss at this point.

I drank 4-6 cans of diet soda a day before I got the band. I haven't had one in 3 months, I can tell you that once in a great while I have the urge to grab a soda and chug the entire can down, but I don't....I paid out of pocket for this and I need it to work. Plus, I don't know what it is, but my skin is in much better condition, much less dry, and I think it has to do with not having the soda.... As for sugar and alcohol, I have had some of both, but I do it in moderation. The sugar thing is the hardest, because so many sweet things are still very easy to eat....chocolate, ice cream, caramel.....the band doesn't really restrict those things, so I do my best to stay away from because they just slow down the progress. Good luck!

My doc said to stay away from NyQuil. I had already had 1 dose and it burned my stomach pretty bad (just the feeling not an actual burn). The pharmacist suggested robituassin bc it's not as much alcohol and cheap so if I couldn't handle it I hadn't spent an arm and leg. It burned a little going down but was tolerable. This was 3 weeks out also. The doc said to stay away from any decongestant, but musinex w a cough suppressant worked pretty well also.

I had my gastric sleeve surgery at my local Spire hospital. I had no pain. It was a friends birthday yesterday and I took her out for lunch. We chose a sharing platter, TBH I was full very quickly and just chatted while she ate. I have got used to this now and so have my friends. I believe that at about 1 year things are easier and you are able to eat more. Or as much as a thin person would eat at any rate. In America they are warned away from drinking. I was told to be careful as I would get drunk quickly, The alcohol gets into your bloodstream quicker. I am not the biggest drinker these days but I have had some. Its a bit like having your first drink again. I was tipsy quite quick after a Bloody Mary. My calories are around 700 to 900 a day so not enough to soak up much alcohol. Some struggle to drink enough, I did. At 3 months, I could gulp a mouthful of any drink again but I still cant guzzle a bottle of water. I dont remember being thirsty but it is a pain to constantly keep sipping